Recalls (5)
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1997 Dodge Dakota. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 1997 Dodge Dakota. Not checked against your VIN.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER/CLOCKSPRING MATERIAL
Air bags
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.
- Consequence
- WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Repair progress not yet reported216,100 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 01V153000
Listed for 1997 Dodge Dakota. Not checked against your VIN.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER/BRAKE TUBE/STEERING HOSE
Service brakes, hydraulic · foundation components · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS BUILT WITH 2.5L ENGINES. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE AND THE POWER STEERING HOSE.
- Consequence
- A PUNCTURE OF THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE FRONT WHEELS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE FOR WEAR. IF WEAR IS EVIDENT, THE BRAKE TUBE AND/OR POWER STEERING HOSE WILL BE REPLACED. A POWER STEERING STANDOFF BRACKET WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE TUBE AND POWER STEERING HOSE IS MAINTAINED.
Repair progress not yet reported40,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V193000
Listed for 1997 Dodge Dakota. Not checked against your VIN.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER/REAR AXLE VENT HOSE/BRAKE HOSE
Service brakes, hydraulic · foundation components · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE REAR AXLE VENT HOSE AND THE BRAKE HOSE.
- Consequence
- A PUNCTURE IN THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF BRAKING FORCE AT THE REAR WHEELS.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE FOR EVIDENCE OF WEAR. WORN BRAKE HOSES WILL BE REPLACED. THE REAR VENT HOSE WILL BE SHORTENED BY 3 INCHES AND A CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED TO ASSURE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AXLE VENT LINE AND BRAKE HOSE IS MAINTAINED.
Repair progress not yet reported437,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V198000
Listed for 1997 Dodge Dakota. Not checked against your VIN.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER/FUEL LINE/CAB UNDERBODY
Fuel system, gasoline · delivery · hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS WITH A 131 INCH WHEELBASE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND THE CAB UNDERBODY.
- Consequence
- THIS CONTACT CAN RESULT IN WEAR, AND AFTER EXTENDED CONTACT, COULD CAUSE A PERFORATION IN THE FUEL LINE, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER CLEARANCE. FUEL LINES THAT EXHIBIT INADEQUATE CLEARANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED FUEL LINE THAT WILL ASSURE PROPER CLEARANCE.
Repair progress not yet reported91,610 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V199000
Listed for 1997 Dodge Dakota. Not checked against your VIN.
CHRYSLER/AIR BAG
Air bags · frontal · sensor/control module-inactive
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT DESIGN ALLOWS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT UPON VEHICLE IGNITION SHUT DOWN.
- Consequence
- UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MODULE.
Repair progress not yet reported125,000 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 97V080000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (446)
446 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
42involved a crash
7involved a fire
30injuries reported
1deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 446 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 142 | 31.8% |
| Service brakes | 72 | 16.1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 49 | 11% |
| Power train | 46 | 10.3% |
| Air bags | 37 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system | 37 | 8.3% |
| Steering | 34 | 7.6% |
| Seats | 22 | 4.9% |
| Electrical system | 17 | 3.8% |
| Tires | 16 | 3.6% |
How 1997 compares with other Dakota years
Best and worst Dakota years →1993134
1994166
1995208
1996189
1997446
1998545
1999641
2000806
2001678
2002678
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 134 | 1 |
| 1994 | 166 | 3 |
| 1995 | 208 | 0 |
| 1996 | 189 | 1 |
| 1997 | 446 | 5 |
| 1998 | 545 | 5 |
| 1999 | 641 | 4 |
| 2000 | 806 | 5 |
| 2001 | 678 | 7 |
| 2002 | 678 | 5 |
This year (1997)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1997 Dakota for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Dodge Dakota FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Dodge Dakota have?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns: 01V153000 (air bag), 00V193000 (brake), 00V198000 (brake), 00V199000 (fuel system), 97V080000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Dodge Dakota problems?
Owners filed 446 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (142), Service brakes (72), Engine and engine cooling (49) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1997 Dakota compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2002 Dodge Dakota model years at least five years old, the 1993 drew the fewest complaints (134) and the 2000 the most (806). The 1997 drew 446. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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